Book-care system



Aug. 24, 1965 R. HARVEY BOOK-GARE SYSTEM Filed July 30, 1964 FIG. l.

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ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,202,290 BOOK-CARE SYSTEM Richard Harvey, 66 Denton Ave., Lynbrook, N.Y. Filed July 3i), 1964, Ser. No. 386,363

8 Claims. (Cl. 211-43) i This invention relates generally to book-storage construction, and is especially concerned with a book-care system including an accessory structure for book shelves.

As is well known to those versed in the storage and handling of books, damage and deterioration occurs not only from careless handling, but by the conventional storage of books in upstanding position on a bookshelf. For example, the spacing of the pages above the bookshelf, and the weight of the pages, cause the same to sag and distort fthe binding, resulting in ultimate damage thereto. Also, the conventional mode of removing a book from a bookshelf, namelyby pulling on the upper edge of the book back, effects substantial local stresses and eventual breaking and cracking of the binding. It is also well known Vin the field that convenient location of books along the front edge of a bookshelf presents a continual problem in maintenance.

Accordingly, it is an importantobject of the present invention to provide a book-care system which overcomes the above-mentioned diiculties, prevents damage to bookbindings caused by sagging of the book pages, facilitates selective removal of books without pulling on the relatively fragile edges thereof, and assures return of books to the shelf in a manner properly locating the books along the front shelf edge.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a book-care system having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, which is extremely simple in construction, durable and reliable throughout a long, useful life, and which can be economically manufactured and installed for sale at a reasonable price.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a partial top perspective view showing a book-care system constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the construction of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional elevational view taken generally along the line 3 3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a partial top plan view similar to FIG- URE 2, showing a slightly modified embodiment thereof.

FIGURE 5 is a partial sectional elevational view taken generally along the line 5-*5 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional elevational view similar to FIGURE 5, but showing a slightly modified embodiment.

FIGURE 7 is a partial top plan view illustrating operation of the embodiments of FIGURES 4-6. p

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGURES 1-3 thereof, a bookshelf is there generally designated 10 and provided with the accessory i 3,2229@ Patented Aug. 24, 1965 ICC The shelf It) thus projects horizontally forward from the support or wall 11 and terminates in a longitudinally extending front shelf edge I2.

The accessory structure 15 may include a elongate retaining strip or molding 16 secured on the upper surface Vof shelf 10 extending longitudinally therealong adjacent to the rear edge thereof. Thus, the retainer or strip lr6 is spaced rearward from the front shelf edge 12. The retainer strip 16 may be of a constant cross-sectional conguration `throughout its length, as seen in FIGURES v1 and 3. That is, the retainer strip may be of a generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration having its undersurface seated on the shelf 10 and formed with a longitudinally extendinggroove 18 opening downwardly toward the shelf. Suitable fastener means, such as screws 19 may extend downwardly through the retainer strip 16 and its groove 18 into the shelf 10 to secure the retainer strip in position. The retainer strip may be of any desired length, or may be formed in separate sections arranged in end-to-end aligned relationship.

Forwardly of the downwardly opening groove `18, the retainer 16 may be formed with an additional, longitudinally extending downwardly opening groove 20. The lower forward portion of the retainer`16 is cut away, as at 21, along the entire length of the retainer, to provide a passageway or entry into the lower portion of groove 20. Thus, the forward region of retainer 16 provides a depending lip or rib, as at 2,2, forward of the groove 20 and terminating in spaced relation above the shelf 10. The opening 21 defines a reducedientry-way into the relatively enlargeddownwardly facing groove 20.

The accessory structure 15 further includes a plurality of page supports or rests 25, each being seated on the shelf 10 and extending forwardly from the retainer 16. The page supports or rests 25-rnay each be of a straight, generally flat configuration having a thickness or height less than the height of retainer opening 21 and having its forward end tapering to a feathered edge 26. Each page rest 25 extends rearwardly through the opening 21 into the groove 20 and is there formed with an upstanding rib or lip 27 slidably received in the groove 20. Thus, the `page rests 25 seaton `the shelf 10, while the transverse slide element or lip 27 of each rest is slidable in groove 20 to constrain the rests to movement longitudinally of the shelf while always extending transversely forward from the retainer 16.

In addition, an upstandingboss or stop member 29 may be provided on each page rest 25 and selectively located thereon at any desired position longitudinally along the respective rest. Toward this end, a series: of upwardly opening holes or recesses 30 may be formed in each page rest 25 arranged longitudinally therealong; and, the stop member or abutment 29 may include depending pins 31, see FIGURE 3, removably engageable in the openings 30.

The accessory structure 15 may also include one or more book ends 33. A pair of book ends may be employed, substantially identical to each other but of opposite hand, if desired. Each book end 33 may include a generally flat bottom plateor base 34 resting on the shelf 10 and extending forwardly from the retainer 16. The plate 34 is advantageously of a lengthgreatefr than that of the page rests 25, to extend forward beyond the latter. The rearward region of base 34 extends rearwardly beneath lip 22 of retainer 16 through opening 21 and into` groove 20, where it is provided with an upstanding slide member, rib or flange 35` slidably retained within the groove 2t). The slide `member or flange 35 extends transversely of the base 34 to maintain the latter in a fori wardly extending position generally normal to the retainer 16, while permitting movement of the book end`33 `longitudinally along the shelf 10.

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Along one side or edge of base 34 there is provided an upstanding wall or abutment 36 for supporting engagement with an endrnost book, as will appear presently. Also, an anchoring tab or extension 37 may project laterally from the base 34, at a location forward of the page rests 25, generally normal to the abutment Wall 36 and Ilying along the upper surface of shelf 10.

As hereinbefore mentioned, the page rests 25 and book ends 33 are constrained to movement in parallelism with each other longitudinally along the shelf 10. This constraint is maintained by sliding engagement of slide members or flanges 27 and 35 in groove 20 when the page rests 25 and base 34 are seated on the shelf 10.. However, the page rests 25 and book-end base 34 may be raised by swinging of their forward ends upward to Withdraw the slide members 27 and 35, respectively, from the groove 20.

An operative condition is shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, a plurality of books 40 being disposed in upstanding relation on the shelf 10. It will there b observed that the pages 41 of the books have their lower horizontal or nether edges resting on respective page rests 25. Of course, the lower edges of the book covers rest on the shelf in the conventional manner. Hence, the weight of the pages 41 causing the latter to sag is effectively It will also be observed that the books 40 are arranged with their backs in line along the forward shelf edge 12. This is assured by proper location of the stop members 29 for engagement with the vertical edges of the books. Thus, upon removal and replacement of a book from the shelf 10, its forward and rearward positioning is determined by location of the stop member 29, to thereby maintain the book backs in proper alignment for neatness and convenience in use.

Also in FIGURE 2, it will be observed that an endmost book may have one cover in engagement with the abutment member or wall 36 of a book end 33 to insure proper maintenance of the books in their upstanding condition. Also, the endmost book rests on the anchoring tab 37 of the adjacent book end 33, to thereby minimize possible forces applied against the book rest.

In a set of books of equal depth, it may be desired to omit the stop members 29 and employ the retainer 16 as a stop for all the books.

In FIGURES 4 and 5 are shown a slightly modified embodiment of adjustable stop 29a, including a base member 45 selectively positionable along a page rest 25, and carrying a resilient member or spring 46, such as a leaf spring having one end normally disposed forwardly of the base 45 and resiliently depressible rearwardly. A book is thus movable rearwardly against the resilient stop spring 46, and upon release of the book the spring serves to shift the book to a desired forward position.

Operation of the resilient abutment stop 29a is shown in FIGURE 7. It will there be observed that a group of three books 4i) is arranged in upstanding, side-by-side condition on a book shelf 10, each seated on a respective page rest 25. The outer books 40 have been manually pulling of a book by the edge ofits binding, and consequent damage thereto.

In FIGURE 6 is shown a slightly modified embodiment of resilient abutment stop 29h, including a base 45h adjustably positionable on a page rest 25, and a stop member 4611 slidably mounted on the base 45b. A coil spring v 447, or other suitable resilient means may be connected between the base 45b and movable stop element 46h to resiliently urge the latter to a forward limiting position, las shown in phantom.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a book-care system in the nature of an auxiliary structure for bookshelves, which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes'and modications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A book-care system comprising a shelf adapted to support books in upstanding position and having a front edge, a retainer secured to said shelf spaced rearwardly from said front edge, a page rest on said shelf and extending forwardly from said retainer for supporting engagement with the nether page edges of an upstanding book on said shelf, and connecting means detachably securing said retainer to said page rest to hold the latter in position.

2. A book-care system according to claim 1, in combination with upstanding stop means adjustably mounted on said page rest for limiting engagement with the vertical page edges of an upstanding book on said shelf.

3. A book-care system according to claim 1, said retainer comprising a track extending longitudinally along said shelf, and said connecting means comprising a slide element fixed to said page rest and slidable along said track to locate said rest at any desired position along said shelf.

4. A book-care system comprising a shelf adapted to support books in upstanding position and having a front edge, a track secured to said shelf extending longitudinally therealong and spaced rearwardly from said front shelf edge, a plurality of page rests on said shelf and each exrearwardly of said shelf for limiting engagement with the vertical page edges of an upstanding book on said shelf.

6. A book-care system according to claim 5, said stop means each being resiliently yieldable rearwardly by rearward book movement, whereby books adjacent to a selected book may be moved rearwardly to expose the selected book for withdrawal.

7. A book-care system according to claim 4, in combination with a book end comprising a base seated on said shelf extending forwardly from said track, a base slide element fixed t-o the rear of said base and slidably engaged in said track to constrain the base to movement longitudinally of said track for adjustment along said shelf, and an upstanding abutment on said base for engagement with the cover of a book.

S. A book-care system according to claim 7, in combination with an anchor tab projecting from said base along said shelf for engagement beneath a book.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 989,566 4/11 Callaghan 211-136 1,562,275 ll/ 25 Armstrong 211-43 FOREIGN PATENTS 5,179 1904 Great Britain.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner, 

1. A BOOK-CARE SYSTEM COMPRISING A SHELF ADAPTED TO SUPPORT BOOKS IN UPSTANDING POSITION AND HAVING A FRONT EDGE, A RETAINER SECURED TO SAID SHELF SPACED REARWARDLY FROM SAID FROANT EDGE, A PAGE REST ON SAID SHELF AND EXTENDING FORWARDLY FROM SAID RETAINER FOR SUPPORTING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE NETHER PAGE EDGES OF AN UPSTANDING BOOK ON SAID SHELF, AND CONNECTING MEANS DETACHABLY SECURING SAID RETAINER TO SAID PAGE REST TO HOLD THE LATTER IN POSITION. 